Earring for pierced ears and for non-pierced ears

ABSTRACT

An earring including a first device for attaching the earring to a pierced ear, and a second device for attaching the earring to an ear, which has not been pierced, are provided. The first device may be comprised of a clasp. The second device may be comprised of a pin. The clasp may snap shut tightly to hold the earring onto an ear. The earring may be further comprised of a body portion. The first device and the second device may be attached at opposite ends of the body portion so that the first device and the second device can rotate with respect to the body portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerningjewelry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically in the prior art earrings are designed with either a pin forinserting into an opening of a pierced ear or with a clasp for holdingthe earring onto a non-pierced ear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in one or more embodiments provides an earring,which can be attached to either a pierced or a non-pierced ear. In atleast one embodiment, a first device for attaching the earring to apierced ear, and a second device for attaching the earring to an ear,which has not been pierced, are provided. The first device may becomprised of a clasp. The second device may be comprised of a pin. Theclasp may snap shut tightly to hold the earring onto an ear. The earringmay be further comprised of a body portion, wherein the first device andthe second device may be attached to the body portion. The first deviceand the second device may be attached to the body portion so that thefirst device and the second device can rotate with respect to the bodyportion. The first device may be attached at one end of the body portionand the second device may be attached at an opposing end of the bodyportion.

An earring may also include a first member, which is attached to thebody portion. The first member may include first and second portions,which have first and second openings, respectively. The second device,for attaching the earring to a non-pierced ear, may have first andsecond ends, which are inserted into the first and second openings,respectively, to attach the second device to the first member. The firstmember may have a gap between the first and second portions. The seconddevice may lie partially inside of the gap and can rotate within thegap. The first device may include a pin, which can rotate with respectto the body portion. The first device may include a stop, which preventsthe pin from rotating beyond a certain point, with respect to the bodyportion.

The present invention, in one or more embodiments also includes amethod, comprising the steps of attaching an earring to a pierced ear byinserting a pin through the pierced ear, removing the earring from thepierced ear, and attaching the earring to a non-pierced ear by attachingclasp to the non-pierced ear.

The present invention, in one or more embodiments also includes a methodcomprising the steps of placing a first device onto an earring forattaching an earring to a pierced ear; and placing a second device ontoan earring for attaching the earring to an ear, which has not beenpierced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention with the apparatus in a first state;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with theapparatus in a second state;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with theapparatus in a third state;

FIG. 4 shows a right side view of a pin and a pivot device for use withthe apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows a left side view of a pin and a pivot device for use withthe apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus 10 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention with the apparatus 10 in a firststate. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1with the apparatus 10 in a second state. FIG. 3 shows a perspective viewof the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 with the apparatus in a third state. FIG.4 shows a right side view of a pin 40 and a pivot device 42 for use withthe apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows a left side view of the pin 40and the pivot device 42 for use with the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1.

The apparatus 10 may be an earring for attaching to either a pierced ora non-pierced ear of a human being. The apparatus 10 includes a device12, a body portion 20 and the pin 40. The device 12 may be a clasp andmay be attached to the body portion 20 through members 22 and 24. Member22 may be comprised of portions 23 a and 23 b. Portions 23 a and 23 bhave openings 22 a and 22 b. There is a gap 23 d between portions 23 aand 23 b which allows the device 12 to rotate from the position or stateof FIG. 1 to the position or state of FIG. 2. The device 12 has portions12 a, 12 b, and 12 c, and ends 12 d and 12 e. The ends 12 d and 12 e areshown placed in the openings 22 a and 22 b, respectively. The device 12or clasp is attached to the portion 22 so that the device 12 whenrotated from the state of FIG. 1 to the state of FIG. 2, snaps shuttightly onto a portion 28 of the body portion 20. In operation, an earlobe can be held tightly between the device 12 and the portion 28 toattach the apparatus 10 to an ear.

The body portion 20 includes hollowed out portion 26 a, sidewalls 26 band 26 c, and fringes 26 d and 26 e. The pin 40 is attached to thedevice 42, through a pivot pin 44 so that the pin 40 can rotate withrespect to the device 42 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to theposition shown in FIG. 3. The device 42 is fixed to the portion 30.Portion 30 is fixed to portion 28 which is fixed to the body portion 20.The pin 40 can rotate from the position in FIG. 2 in a counterclockwisedirection D1 to the position shown in FIG. 3. The pin 40 is preventedfrom rotating in the direction D2 beyond the position shown in FIG. 2,by the portion 30.

In operation, if an individual desires to attach the earring orapparatus 10 onto a non-pierced ear, the individual would place theapparatus 10 in the state shown in FIG. 1 with the device or clasp 12open. The individual would also place the pin 40 in a down position asin FIG. 3. The individual would then place the ear lobe onto the portion28 and then snap the device or clasp 12 shut so that the ear lobe wouldbe pressed tightly between the clasp 12 and the portion 28 with theapparatus 10 in the state of FIG. 3. The individual can release theapparatus 10 from the individual's ear by opening the device or clasp12.

If an individual desires to attach the earring or apparatus 10 onto apierced ear, the individual would place the apparatus 10 in the stateshown in FIG. 1 with the device or clasp 12 open and with the pin 40extending outward from the apparatus 10. The individual would theninsert the pin 40 into an opening of a pierced ear. The individual canthen push the pin 40 down into the position of FIG. 3. The device 12 orclasp, may be snapped shut as in FIG. 3 or may be left open as in FIG.1.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particularillustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of theinvention may become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to include within this patent all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

1. An earring comprising: a first device for attaching the earring to apierced ear; and a second device for attaching the earring to an ear,which has not been pierced.
 2. The earring of claim 1 wherein the firstdevice is comprised of a pin.
 3. The earring of claim 1 wherein thesecond device is comprised of a clasp.
 4. The earring of claim 2 whereinthe second device is comprised of a clasp.
 5. The earring of claim 3wherein the clasp snaps shut tightly to hold the earring onto an ear. 6.The earring of claim 1 further comprising a body portion; wherein thefirst device and the second device are attached to the body portion. 7.The earring of claim 6 wherein the first device and the second deviceare attached to the body portion so that the first device and the seconddevice can rotate with respect to the body portion.
 8. The earring ofclaim 6 wherein the first device is attached at one end of the bodyportion and the second device is attached at an opposing end of the bodyportion.
 9. The earring of claim 6 further comprising a first member,which is attached to the body portion; wherein the first member includesfirst and second portions, which have first and second openings,respectively; and wherein the second device has first and second ends,which are inserted into the first and second openings, respectively, toattach the first device to the first member.
 10. The earring of claim 9wherein the first member has a gap between the first and secondportions; and wherein the second device lies partially inside of the gapand can rotate within the gap.
 11. The earring of claim 6 wherein thefirst device includes a pin, which can rotate with respect to the bodyportion; and wherein the first device includes a stop, which preventsthe pin from rotating beyond a certain point, with respect to the bodyportion.
 12. A method comprising the steps of: attaching an earring to apierced ear by inserting a pin through the pierced ear; removing theearring from the pierced ear; and attaching the earring to a non-piercedear by attaching clasp to the non-pierced ear.
 13. A method comprisingthe steps of placing a first device onto an earring for attaching anearring to a pierced ear; and placing a second device onto an earringfor attaching the earring to an ear, which has not been pierced.
 14. Themethod of claim 13 wherein the first device is comprised of a pin. 15.The method of claim 13 wherein the second device is comprised of aclasp.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the second device is comprisedof a clasp.
 17. The earring of claim 15 wherein the clasp snaps shuttightly to hold the earring onto an ear.
 18. The method of claim 13further comprising attaching the first device and the second device to abody portion of the earring.
 19. The method of claim 18 furthercomprising attaching the first device and the second device to the bodyportion so that the first device and the second device can rotate withrespect to the body portion.
 20. The method of claim 18 furthercomprising attaching the first device at one end of the body portion andthe second device at an opposing end of the body portion.